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bookish_notes's review
4.0
[a:Morgan Rhodes|5295120|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1354050427p2/5295120.jpg] sure knows how to leave a book on a cliffhanger! [b:A Book of Spirits and Thieves|22571365|A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429026765s/22571365.jpg|42037808] was an introduction to Crys, Farrell, Becca, Maddox, and a swirl of mystery about the world we've come to know in the [b:Falling Kingdoms|12954620|Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337026387s/12954620.jpg|18111704] series and modern-day Toronto. Everything in the modern-day world revolved around Markus King, the Hawkspear Society, and the magical book he wanted so much. In Mytica, life for Maddox is becoming a bit overwhelming with his newfound powers and the revelation about his parents.
The first book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger as well, and I thought that [b:The Darkest Magic|23367270|The Darkest Magic (Spirits and Thieves, #2)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449522666s/23367270.jpg|42926561] would keep that pace. However, the book feels like it stalls as everyone is trying to understand things. From Becca's lineage and trying to figure out how to deceive Markus, to Maddox and Barnabas trying to find Princess Cassia, it's all very dull. Maddox learning his powers to revive a head was exceptionally eye-rolling at first before I came around by the end of the book to very much like the talking head, Alcander.
I don't know whether it's because I'm returning to reading YA after taking a few weeks to read a very, very long series, In the Company of Shadows, but...it does seem that with revelations thrown left and right, there isn't enough time for the characters to take it all in and properly respond to situations in The Darkest Magic. Where I would expect a character should be grieving or be in shock, I feel like the character maybe gets a page or two to let it sink in, and then the story almost seem to progress too abruptly to the next scene.
The story doesn't really pick up until a new big bad is introduced more than halfway through the book and makes Markus' magic look like child's play. The new villain of the story, Damen, is an interesting addition to the story and I'm looking forward to see what he'll do in the next book. The story between Crys and Farrell both manages to tug at the heartstrings and remains questionable after what Farrell did in ABOSAT. It's both a very strange situation where I ship them both, but then I wanted Crys to find out what he's done to her father, even if it wasn't entirely under his on volition. I was relatively unimpressed with Maddox's storyline at the beginning when all the action seemed to be happening in Toronto. I think I could be incredibly invested in a book from just Maddox's POV, but considering that he has to share POV chapters with Crys, Farrell, and now Becca, it just felt like his was the weakest.
The Mytica storyline, thankfully, becomes much more fun with lots more action at the end of the book and I look forward to reading the last book of the trilogy. I'll definitely be sad to say goodbye to these characters, but I can't wait to see how this will all end!
The first book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger as well, and I thought that [b:The Darkest Magic|23367270|The Darkest Magic (Spirits and Thieves, #2)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449522666s/23367270.jpg|42926561] would keep that pace. However, the book feels like it stalls as everyone is trying to understand things. From Becca's lineage and trying to figure out how to deceive Markus, to Maddox and Barnabas trying to find Princess Cassia, it's all very dull. Maddox learning his powers to revive a head was exceptionally eye-rolling at first before I came around by the end of the book to very much like the talking head, Alcander.
I don't know whether it's because I'm returning to reading YA after taking a few weeks to read a very, very long series, In the Company of Shadows, but...it does seem that with revelations thrown left and right, there isn't enough time for the characters to take it all in and properly respond to situations in The Darkest Magic. Where I would expect a character should be grieving or be in shock, I feel like the character maybe gets a page or two to let it sink in, and then the story almost seem to progress too abruptly to the next scene.
The story doesn't really pick up until a new big bad is introduced more than halfway through the book and makes Markus' magic look like child's play. The new villain of the story, Damen, is an interesting addition to the story and I'm looking forward to see what he'll do in the next book. The story between Crys and Farrell both manages to tug at the heartstrings and remains questionable after what Farrell did in ABOSAT. It's both a very strange situation where I ship them both, but then I wanted Crys to find out what he's done to her father, even if it wasn't entirely under his on volition. I was relatively unimpressed with Maddox's storyline at the beginning when all the action seemed to be happening in Toronto. I think I could be incredibly invested in a book from just Maddox's POV, but considering that he has to share POV chapters with Crys, Farrell, and now Becca, it just felt like his was the weakest.
The Mytica storyline, thankfully, becomes much more fun with lots more action at the end of the book and I look forward to reading the last book of the trilogy. I'll definitely be sad to say goodbye to these characters, but I can't wait to see how this will all end!
booksandladders's review
4.0
Looking for my review of [b:Falling Kingdoms|12954620|Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337026387s/12954620.jpg|18111704]? Click here!
I have died. I'm dead. Like super dead. This book, this series, this world, they all slay me. I have a good chance of being revived in time for [b:Crystal Storm|23367261|Crystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms, #5)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458655374s/23367261.jpg|42926537] and then dying again after I finish that one. But man! I love getting the backstory to [b:Falling Kingdoms|12954620|Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337026387s/12954620.jpg|18111704] in [b:The Darkest Magic|23367270|The Darkest Magic (Spirits and Thieves, #2)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449522666s/23367270.jpg|42926561]. It makes my reading of these books that much more interesting. I had a few issues with this one but otherwise I am THOROUGHLY SATISFIED.
The Bad:
One thing about the way that these books are written is that there is instalove everywhere. You meet someone and three days later you are super in love with them. And that's fine, except it's not that believable -- especially when you read it about every single character. It's basically like: Person A meets Person B and three days later they are a couple and soul mates. Which is fine if you're into that sort of thing, but I am not. I think the most realistic relationship in this one is between Crystal and Farrell and I am not even a fan of them together.
The Good:
Literally everything else. Like, adults were a part of this! They told the kids what they needed to know but were there for (most of) the steps to solving the problem. But the kids were still kids! They snuck out! They tried to solve the problem on their own and failed! It was excellent. I also liked that the adults were just as wrapped up in the events as the kids were. Too often with fantasy books the kids think they can just solve the problem on their own and parents are oblivious (or in a magical coma) so they don't ask for help. But Crystal asked for help and received it. She also wanted to be in the know and the adults trusted her (to some extent). It was wonderful. And Becca was able to grow in this one a lot more than in [b:A Book of Spirits and Thieves|22571365|A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429026765s/22571365.jpg|42037808] because she was given her own point of view. I'm not going to lie, when I saw she had her own point of view, I thought but it was refreshing to see how the magic worked with her and that she was her own person instead of just Crys's sister or Maddox's BFF/Crush/True Love.
I loved being in Maddox's mind because I love Mytica SO MUCH. I could spend forever in this fantasy world (and trust me, I spend a lot of time rereading the FK books) so having this addition and a portal to our present day world? Hello, let me find that please! I feel like Maddox has grown so much over the course of the story and I am really excited to see where he is going to go next.
I am still not a fan of Farrell. I think he is a lot of things that if I wrote them out I would have to ** and !$@ the letters so you don't see what I'm saying. I don't think he is a good guy and I don't think he has room for a redemption arc. I feel like the ending is going to change him a lot though so LET'S SEE. But I don't think Crys and him are a good match. Nope nope nope. I'm nope-ing out of there. HOWEVER, I did quite enjoy their ballroom scene and I am such a sucker for those tbh.
I am so excited to see how the plot develops both in Toronto and in Mytica. I feel like this has so much potential for explosive and danger, but also sweet and sentimental. I love this series and I will PUSH IT ON PEOPLE FOREVER (looking at you Dani) so START BOTH THIS AND FALLING KINGDOMS ASAP!
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I have died. I'm dead. Like super dead. This book, this series, this world, they all slay me. I have a good chance of being revived in time for [b:Crystal Storm|23367261|Crystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms, #5)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458655374s/23367261.jpg|42926537] and then dying again after I finish that one. But man! I love getting the backstory to [b:Falling Kingdoms|12954620|Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337026387s/12954620.jpg|18111704] in [b:The Darkest Magic|23367270|The Darkest Magic (Spirits and Thieves, #2)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449522666s/23367270.jpg|42926561]. It makes my reading of these books that much more interesting. I had a few issues with this one but otherwise I am THOROUGHLY SATISFIED.
The Bad:
One thing about the way that these books are written is that there is instalove everywhere. You meet someone and three days later you are super in love with them. And that's fine, except it's not that believable -- especially when you read it about every single character. It's basically like: Person A meets Person B and three days later they are a couple and soul mates. Which is fine if you're into that sort of thing, but I am not. I think the most realistic relationship in this one is between Crystal and Farrell and I am not even a fan of them together.
The Good:
Literally everything else. Like, adults were a part of this! They told the kids what they needed to know but were there for (most of) the steps to solving the problem. But the kids were still kids! They snuck out! They tried to solve the problem on their own and failed! It was excellent. I also liked that the adults were just as wrapped up in the events as the kids were. Too often with fantasy books the kids think they can just solve the problem on their own and parents are oblivious (or in a magical coma) so they don't ask for help. But Crystal asked for help and received it. She also wanted to be in the know and the adults trusted her (to some extent). It was wonderful. And Becca was able to grow in this one a lot more than in [b:A Book of Spirits and Thieves|22571365|A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429026765s/22571365.jpg|42037808] because she was given her own point of view. I'm not going to lie, when I saw she had her own point of view, I thought
Spoiler
she was going to die (and I guess I am TECHNICALLY RIGHT)I loved being in Maddox's mind because I love Mytica SO MUCH. I could spend forever in this fantasy world (and trust me, I spend a lot of time rereading the FK books) so having this addition and a portal to our present day world? Hello, let me find that please! I feel like Maddox has grown so much over the course of the story and I am really excited to see where he is going to go next.
Spoiler
PLEASE LET IT BE TO THE DARK SIDE. PLEASE. Then we can have a romantical moment between him and Becca where she tries to pull him back and he says no and then DESTROYS THINGS. #wishlistI am still not a fan of Farrell. I think he is a lot of things that if I wrote them out I would have to ** and !$@ the letters so you don't see what I'm saying. I don't think he is a good guy and I don't think he has room for a redemption arc. I feel like the ending is going to change him a lot though so LET'S SEE. But I don't think Crys and him are a good match. Nope nope nope. I'm nope-ing out of there. HOWEVER, I did quite enjoy their ballroom scene and I am such a sucker for those tbh.
I am so excited to see how the plot develops both in Toronto and in Mytica. I feel like this has so much potential for explosive and danger, but also sweet and sentimental. I love this series and I will PUSH IT ON PEOPLE FOREVER (looking at you Dani) so START BOTH THIS AND FALLING KINGDOMS ASAP!
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
abbyrj94's review
5.0
4.5 stars. I think Maddox is officially my favorite male Young Adult character EVER. Full review to come!
rachel93's review
5.0
This book was so good. I was not disappointed at all. The last few chapters definitely had me in the edge of my seat. Can't wait for book 3!
zoe_library_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
emmascc's review
4.0
OH MY GOD YOU CANT JUST LEAVE IT LIKE THAT WHAT THE HELL I NEED BOOK 3 RIGHT NOW
toystory242's review against another edition
5.0
Literally everything about this was beautiful (even though it took me way longer to read than it should have) and I think Maddox and Becca have been usurped by Crys and Farrell as my main favs. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT FARRELL HOLY MOLYYYYYYYYYY
BRING IT ONNNNN
BRING IT ONNNNN
marie_lrj's review against another edition
4.0
These books are so good! I don't know why they're not getting more attention than they are, because they definitely deserve it. Fans of the Falling Kingdoms series would love this, and even those who maybe didn't like Falling Kingdoms or who haven't read them would like it too, I think, since it's very different and a lot of it takes place in our modern world. Very well done.